(Prep Wrestling) Manistique's Miller, Stevenson go 5-0

December 23, 2013

MUNISING - A pair of Manistique wrestlers shined in Saturday's Munising Holiday Invitational as the Emeralds finished fifth among six teams.

Sault Ste. Marie took home the championship trophy, winning all five of its bouts. The Blue Devils were followed by Ishpeming 4-1, Munising 3-2, Rudyard 2-3, Manistique 1-4 and Newberry 0-5.

Senior Austin Miller and sophomore Dill Stevenson went undefeated for the Emeralds, who salvaged a 30-22 victory over Newberry.

"We're very young and inexperienced, but we're pleased to have two wrestlers go undefeated," said Emeralds' coach Gary Bowman. "Austin has been very helpful with leadership and Dill is learning how to be a wrestler. We're improving with each match. We'll be a different team next year."

Manistique fell to Rudyard 30-18 in its opener, then bowed to Sault (60-22) and Munising (38-36) before facing Newberry. The Emeralds finished with a 39-21 loss to Ishpeming.

"Sault is a tough team," said Ishpeming coach Tim Hares. "They have some good kids. But we had three kids go 5-0 and three more go 4-1. That's a pretty good day. I'm extremely pleased with how hard the kids worked today.

"Manistique is coming along. Their coaches are doing a good job. Wrestling is not for everybody. It's a hard sport."

Miller survived a scare early in the third period of his 130-pound bout in his 15-7 victory over Sault's Jeremy Bumstead.

Bumstead, who was trailing 15-2 at that time, then recorded a takedown and near fall to finish the scoring. Miller, however, was able to keep his composure and secure the decision.